Honestly, if you're trying to keep track of the la liga game schedule right now, you've probably realized it's a bit of a mess. Not because it’s poorly run—though some fans might argue that point over a caña—but because we are hitting that mid-January wall where the calendar basically explodes.
Between the Supercopa in Saudi Arabia, the Copa del Rey's midweek madness, and the actual league fixtures, finding a simple kickoff time feels like solving a Rubik's cube.
We just saw Barcelona edge out Real Madrid 3-2 in a wild Supercopa final in Jeddah. Now, everyone is flying back to Spain to resume the grind. If you're looking for the next big block of games, things kick off again on Friday, January 16, with Espanyol taking on Girona.
The January and February Gauntlet
The schedule over the next few weeks is brutal. Real Madrid is currently chasing Hansi Flick’s Barcelona, who have been on a tear. Madrid fans are still getting used to life under Xabi Alonso, who took over from Carlo Ancelotti this season.
Take a look at the upcoming weekend. On Saturday, January 17, Real Madrid hosts Levante at the Bernabéu. It’s an early 1:00 PM local start. Later that same day, Betis and Villarreal go at it in Seville, which is always a high-scoring affair.
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Sunday, January 18 is even bigger. You’ve got Real Sociedad welcoming Barcelona to San Sebastián. The Anoeta has always been a house of horrors for Barça, and with Sociedad fighting to climb out of the mid-table, that 8:00 PM (CET) kickoff is going to be intense.
The following week doesn't let up either. On Saturday, January 24, Villarreal plays host to Real Madrid. The Yellow Submarine has been surprisingly disciplined this year, and playing at the Estadio de la Cerámica is never easy.
Key dates to circle in your calendar
- January 31: Elche vs. Barcelona. A potential trap game for the leaders.
- February 1: The Basque Derby. Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Sociedad. This is arguably the best atmosphere in Spanish football.
- February 8: Valencia vs. Real Madrid at Mestalla. After the drama of previous years, this is always a high-voltage fixture.
- March 1: Real Betis vs. Sevilla. El Gran Derbi. Enough said.
Why the schedule feels so unpredictable
The big thing most people get wrong about the la liga game schedule is the "asymmetrical" calendar. Basically, the order of matches in the second half of the season doesn't mirror the first half. Just because Team A played Team B on Matchday 1 doesn't mean they'll meet again on Matchday 20.
This was designed to prevent teams from having "easy" or "impossible" runs at the end of the season, but it makes planning a trip to Spain kinda difficult.
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Television rights also play a huge role. In the US, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes hold the keys. In the UK, it’s mostly Premier Sports and sometimes Disney+. They usually don't lock in the exact day and time until a few weeks before the match. A game listed for "Sunday" might be moved to Friday night or Monday night to satisfy the broadcasters.
It's frustrating. You want to book a flight to see the Madrid Derby at the Bernabéu on March 22, but the league might not confirm the exact hour until early March.
The Title Race and the Relegation Scrap
Barcelona is currently sitting top with 49 points after 19 games. Real Madrid is right behind them on 45. It’s a two-horse race, but Villarreal is lurking in third with 41.
Down at the bottom, it's getting depressing for Real Oviedo and Levante. They are stuck in the basement with 13 and 14 points respectively. Valencia is also in a scary spot, hovering just above the drop zone. Their upcoming games against Getafe (Jan 18) and Espanyol (Jan 24) are basically "six-pointers." If they don't find some rhythm soon, one of Spain’s biggest clubs could be headed for the second division.
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Kylian Mbappé has been living up to the hype, leading the scoring charts with 18 goals. But the real story has been Lamine Yamal. The kid is 18 now and playing like he’s 30. He’s already got 7 assists and is the primary reason Barça's attack looks so fluid under Flick.
How to actually use this schedule
If you're planning on watching, don't just rely on the "default" Sunday date.
- Check the official La Liga app or website exactly 15 days before the match day. That's usually when the horarios (fixed times) are finalized.
- If you are in the US, remember that East Coast times are usually 6 hours behind Spain. Most big games happen at 3:00 PM ET.
- Don't sleep on the midweek games. With the Copa del Rey and UEFA competitions, teams like Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao are playing every three days. Fatigue is going to start causing weird results soon.
The big one is looming in May. Mark your calendar for May 10, 2026. That is when the second El Clásico of the league season happens at the Spotify Camp Nou. It could very well decide the title.
To make the most of the current run, focus on the Matchday 20 and 21 windows happening right now. Make sure your streaming subscriptions are active for the January 18 clash between Real Sociedad and Barcelona, as that result will set the tone for the entire month of February. If Sociedad can take points off the leaders, the gap at the top will vanish.